Smoking tobacco



temperature.

Patented July 9, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SMOKING TOBACCO Roger Lawson Swain, Danville, Va.

No Drawing. Application July 25, 1938, Serial No. 221,235

, 2 Claims. This invention relates to smoking tobacco for use in cigarettes, pipes, and the like and it is more especially. a continuation in part of an application filed by me on May 10, 1937, Serial Number 141,882.

It is a fact well known to manufacturers of tobacco products that the use of a hygroscopic agent is essential but thus far the only acceptable product possessing the necessary requirements has been glycerine which, as far as I am aware, is used in practically all tobacco products. It has been found, however, that glycerine, when used in a tobacco product, causes throat irritation due to the fact that the tobacco and glycerine mixture, when burned, is oxidized to acrylic aldehyde which is highly irritant when inhaled, affects the digestive organs, and invariably produces what is known as smokers sore throat.

The foregoing disadvantages have long been recognized but, due to the lack of an eflicient substitute for the glycerine, the use thereof has continued.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate glycerine and to substitute therefor an extract of ginseng root, it having been found that the resultant product possesses the necessary hygroscopic properties heretofore dependent on the use of glycerine but without any of the attendant objectionable characteristics resulting from the use of glycerine.

'A further object is to provide a tobacco product the ginseng extract content of which, instead of causing throat irritation and other ailments resulting from the use of glycerine, possesses the properties of a demulcent, aromatic,

strongly mucilaginous, nervin and stimulating,

the same causing no irritation to the throat but, on the contrary, producing a' -mild after effect.

In preparing tobacco in accordance with the present invention the ginseng extract can be produced by macerating 120 grams of selected ginseng root in 2000 c. c. hydroalcoholic solution (water 1, alcohol 2) left for 48 hours at room Thereafter the mixture is strained and the resultant fluid used as a spray. Excellent results have been obtained where 65 c. c. of the liquid is sprayed on 3 lbs. of flavored tobacco. Thereafter the product is dried in a vac- 50 uum at 104 F. I

Tests of the foregoing product have disclosed the following characteristics:

Per cent Free nicotine 2.75 Ammonia in tobacco 0.488 Nitrate nitrogen 0.0722 Cyanogenetic glucosides 0.0055 Pyridine homologues in smoke 0.136 Carbon monoxide in smoke 0.126 Nicotine in smoke 0.011 Ammonia in smoke Trace Ash 14.60 pH. value hydrogen electrode type K 6.52

By substituting ginseng for glycerine with tobacco, it has been found that it blends the sweet panaquilon and gum with the nicotine and pyridine series. It is then hydrolyzed on contact with the saliva when smoking, forming a mucilage strongly demulcent which acts to coat the mucous membranes and results in a mild, sweet smoke without irritation and with a pleasing aroma and taste.

In preparing the tobacco product it is to be understood that the percentage of ginseng extract and the strength thereof can be varied to meet varying conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing a smoking tobacco of a hygroscopic mucilaginous nature and possessing the properties of a stimulant and demulcent, which includes the step of spraying tobacco with a hydroalcoholic solution of ginseng and thereafter drying the product in a partial vacuum.

2. The method of producing a smoking tobacco possessing the properties of a demulcent and stimulant and which is strongly mucilaginous and hygroscopic, which includes the step of macerating ginseng root in a hydroalcoholic solution of approximately the proportions of water 1, alcohol 2, the ginseng root being substantially in the proportion of 120 grams to 2000 c. c. of the solution, allowing the mixture to stand for approximately 48 hours at room temperature, straining the mixture, spraying the liquid residue on tobacco, and drying in a partial vacuum at approximately 104 F., approximately 65 c. c. of the liquid being used with 3 lbs. of tobacco. ROGER LAWSON SWAIN. 

